Water

[Merc]

Hi All

I know I mentioned ealier about going through water,well here goes I put roughly 3/4 litre in the expansion tank about 5 hours ago Iv'e driven about 35/40 miles,and the radiator warning light came on again.
I checked it and yep!,its back down at the bottom of the bottle again,so theres something not right!.I thought of (this probably wont be right but here goes) the previous owner let it go down that far that now I'm "filling the radiator up again",or Iv'e got one h*ll
of leak somewhere,any thoughts anyone!.

regards

 

[Merc]

Me again

I meant to say also,the temp guage is quite often goes up/down like a yoyo,it goes right up to the red and a couple of minutes later comes back again,(this is whether I'm driving or sitting at lights ect.
I mean could this be the thermostat doing this,I'm really sure.

regards

 

[Andy]

Hi Merc

Try this. First put your hand on the radiator and make sure that the radiator is getting warm all over. If not and there are cold spots then the rad may be blocked. Also try removing the thermostat. You may find there is a little brass type L shape bracket. Saw it off. And try again. This was a little mod years ago for similar problems.

Regards

Andy @ www.mercedeservicing.com

PS. The thermostat can be in one of two places. Either at the top. Or on the water pump. There is a way of telling but I cant remember. I would probably go for by the water pump first.

 

[Merc]

Hi Andy

Thanks I'll try that tommorrow,but are you sure about cutting this thing off!!,oh well I know you what your talking about.
So I'll see how I get on,thanks.

Regards

 

[Anonymous]

Merc.

sounds like the sender unit for the temp gauge is on the blink, i cant think why else it would bounce up and down like that.

And i would recommend flushing the cooling system out totally. Use a constant flow with a hosepipe for about 10-15 minutes to clear everything. You could also try reverse flushing the rad only...just to be sure. Then refill the syste,.

 

[Merc]

Matt

Your probably right about the sender guage,I'll get another one and see how that goes.


Andy/Dave

I couldnt do anything today regards changing the oil, weather's been crap,yes I share a garage with a mate but its just big enough for the car,I mean you can it in but you can bearly get out of it (the car that is).
But as Andy said put ny hand on the rad in diffirent places,and well its cold,well what I should say if your looking in (at the front) the left side of it is cold,well a very slight heat off it but not nearlly as much as the right.
Also the bottom left hose is cold until it joins the "t-piece" type thing,the rest of the hoses are hot,and I'm still going through alot of water!!,now obviously the rad is blocked on the left side,will flushing it solve it.or what do I do now,some help please.

Regards

 

[Matt Crooke]

Flushing the rad out wil help a lot, you will then have a freeflow of water. Also that way you will know if the thermostat is working ok.

judging by what you say it sounds like a blocked rad. Once the car has warmed up, and the thermostat has opened both top and bottom hoses should be hot...you say the bottom wasnt, hence the blocked rad.

 

[Matt Crooke]

ps, youd be amazed at the amount of shite that can build up in a radiator. Hopefully it will all come out when you flush it.

Start off by taking the top and bottom hoses off the rad (you will lose loads of water,, but not to worry) Force water through a hose into the top hole in the rad and leave it running through until the water coming out the bottom hole is clean and clear. it may take about 10 mins for it to come clean.

Then when you have done that force water through the top hose, eventually it will start to come out the bottom hose.....if your system is blocked up bad i would imagine the the thermostat is stuck open...they always seem to go for some reason. Leave the water going through the sop hose until it becomes clear the same. Dont forget to leave the heater control on hot, so the clean water goes through the heater matrix as well, as these often get blocked up.

once all is clean, reconnect the hoses and re-fill the system slowly to avoid getting airlocks.

see how that goes.

 

[Merc]

Matt

What about all the water I'm going through,where is it going?,cause' its need more as I write!.

Regards

 

[Matt Crooke]

Can you see it leaking out anywhere?

or is there excessive white smoke coming out the exhaust?

Also, is the water in the expansion tank clean, or is it a chocolatey colour?

 

[Merc]

Matt

No I cant see it leaking anywhere.

Not really,just the usual amout something the same as the 500 at tickover,but seems to clear as I drive.

It looks quite clean,but I'll another look.

Regards

Oh, by the way,do you know what the bulb wattage is of the headlight switch (illumination).

 

[Matt Crooke]

Thats good news about the smoke then, and the tank.

i would imagine the headlight switch is a 5 watt bulb.

 

[Merc]

Matt

Thanks for all that!,but this water "disapearing" is really anoying me,I have not got any clue where its going.
I'm just about to go out,and i'll have to fill it again,and by the time I get back later it'll be empty.

regards

 

[Matt Crooke]

Any joy???

 

[Merc]

Matt

Well Iv'e got blown head gasket!!,thats where the ****** water is going,not be eh!!.
Iv'e had a price of £360 and £550 from Merc,so I doubt you'll be seeing me at the "Cots",I would like to get fixed cause' I quite like the car,but one things for sure he's (the guy who I swaped with) not going to tell me the gaskets blown is he!!,cause' I no I would tell anyone that,(uless I knew them),so I guess I dont expect to be told something like that.
Excuse the lingo' but all i think of saying right now is BASTARD!!!!!!!!!!!,and I cant get hold of him either,'mmmm',I remember hearing a saying years ago and I think it could be true "Life's a bitch then you die".
But just now I'll just have it topped up with water,and keep my eye on it.

Regards

ps.I suppose theres always one plus,at least it not the V8 that needs it done!.

 

[Matt Crooke]

Oh merc, thats a **** it really is, im so sorry to hear that. Is the guy not answering his mobile or something?.

Wat you going to do....try to get hold of him? or get it fixed?

 

[Merc]

Matt

He's not answering the phone and I'm not leaving a message,cause' he'll know its me and what its about,so he wont return the call.
but I guess we've ripped off each other,cause' the 500 needs about 1k spent on it just to get it up to scratch,so I guess I'm getting off lightly,well a bit!.
I'll just keep topping it up with water just now,till I get the money together,and keep my eye on the warning guage.
But yes I like it over the other one,considering what it needs,that sounds daft I now but what the h*ll
,na' I'll really think I'll keep it and get it going right.
And yes I'll still put in the little illumination bulbs,even after this.

Regards

 

[dave elcome]

Merc.

I'm sorry to hear that you have aggrovation with the new beast, and i don't want to add to your problems, BUT, be very careful about using the car with the head gasket blown, if you do, you will be letting yourself in for far greater problems, absolute worst case scenario, NEW ENGINE!! think long and hard about using it.

I promise you i am not being dramatic for the sake of it, i have know people who have continued to drive when they knew the gasket was gone, and they have absolutly fried their engines.

There must be somewhere/someone cheaper than the dealers up your way.

 

[Merc]

Dave

I know what you mean,but the guy who pressure tested the rad (he put something in the hole of the expansion bottle,sucked out some of the coolant) said that as long as kept it topped up it would "hold up" for a couple of weeks till I could get it fixed.
He said keep your eye on the bottle before & after you use it,just keep yourself safe!,so I thought thats what I'd do.

Regards

 

[fuzzer]

Merc , there are a few specialists about our way . Hart motors in clydebank , Lorimer and Findlay in whiteinch and there is T J O'neil in carntyne . and there is another in clarkston who's name escapes me . The latter is one who i would trust with my own car. Having said that Vardy are normally on the cheap side too even through they are a franchised workshop.